Chapter 1| The wedding
1030 Words
…………………………Ben’s thoughts…………………………………
“But I love you”
“Benjamin, stop that nonsense! I love your brother.”
……………………end of Ben’s thought………………………………
“Ben!” the woman had been calling. “Ben!”
He, Ben―short for Benjamin, finally came back to life with a fright.
“Ben?” the woman asked, “What are you thinking about?” She was the mother of two sons. One was getting married that day. “Your brother is getting married and you should be out there, helping with the smooth running of the wedding. Now, come on. Get working. We need more tables at the feast.”
“Where can I find the tables, mom?”
She pointed not so far, telling him to turn around the corner and try to spread his eyes a bit, and he would find the tables. Ben was not in one of his fair moods. It was rather foul. His thoughts were back again.
………………………………Ben’s thoughts……………………………
This time he was not in class with Cindy, in high school. He was at his home, in his father’s garage with Cindy. That day Cindy was waiting for Nkule. They were going on a date but that did not sit well on the young Ben. He would feel that he was more deserving of a relationship with Cindy given he had known Cindy for a long time.
Since their first day of school. Since their first mould of mud. Since their first signs of puberty. They were forever best of friends until she had a relationship with his brother.
“But he is a lot older than you.”
“Just three years. Besides what’s age got to do with love?” she was leaving the garage until he pulled her aback. “Love, you just said. You’re not even sure if he feels the same way but me... I tell you all the times.”
“Oh, you wait, my darling. He will finally say the words. Just you wait.”
“Wait for what?” that was Nkule himself. He went and gave Cindy a big huh while kissing her lips. “You look nice,” he said.
“Nice?” she asked.
“Oh, my. I’m so wrong. What I meant was, you look gorgeous.”
Ben was already walking away.
“Ben!” Nkule said, tossing Ben a set of keys, “Lock the garage and give the keys to dad. And tell him, I said thanks for the car.”
………………………….end of Ben’s thoughts…………………………………..
When Ben rouse from his teenage thoughts he found himself standing with the bride after he had asked one of the bride’s maids, whom he had found standing outside, to go and call the bride for him. “Cindy...” for an entire ten seconds he stood wordless.
He thought hard to find the right words and this went out, “I love you―”
“Ben―”
He silenced her with a gentle raise of his palm. He continued, “And I know, you know that I love you. You and my brother, I... I have seen you together. Many times. You’re just always up in my face. It’s frustrating...”
The wedding was at a botanic garden. It was green and flowery.
……………………………………………………………..
“Huh! Groom, you should not be out here!” cried the mother. She was setting the table with decorations and foods. She did not expect to see Nkule out there helping to make his day best as possible. “You should be in the hut with your uncles, getting wisdom from them.”
“Not that again, mom. Uncle wouldn’t let me sleep last night. He kept going on and on about his experiences in marriage. I need to do something new, please.” Nkule had said. He started looking around, “Where is Ben? I need to talk to him before I become a married man.”
“Oh, that one. It’s been long since I sent him to get me more tables. He hasn’t shown up. Something’s not right with him. I think it’s good that you want to talk to him. Find out what’s bothering him for me.”
“When will you stop treating him like a little baby. He’s a grown man now. He’s got a job and his own house.”
“He will always be my baby. He’s my very last born. And he’s shown me more love like you’ve shown yours to your father.”
“Come on, mom. I love you and dad the same way, and I’ve always shown you that.”
“Okay. Let’s put it this way, who did you run to for advice when a girl first court your heart? Your dad. And when you had to shave for the first time? Your dad. Ben came to me when he experienced his first heartbreak. When he ejaculated for the first time. When he couldn’t understand his changing voice. Oh, Nkule, should I go on?”
Nkule was laughing at that time. “Oh, mom. I think it’s best we stop.” He gave his short mother a kiss on her cheek after she had shown him the directions to which Ben had disappeared to.
……………………………………………………………………………..
“...It’s makes me mad; it disgusts me! But I wish those moments were between you and I...” Ben neared and he touched her hidden pregnancy, “I wish this was from you and I.”
By then, Nkule had found them. He saw them stare in each other’s eyes, he saw his hand touch her flat belly and she held on his hand. From that distance, Nkule could hear not even one of their voices, he saw only their mouths moving. From his view, he made his own conclusion.
“How did you know?” Cindy had asked Benjamin how he knew about her pregnancy when she was keeping it a secret from everyone.
Disgusted and hurt, Nkule couldn’t stand to watch his brother touch the belly of his wife-to-be. His heart could almost burst out of his chest. The veins on his fists swelled. And his eyes blurry with tears…
- Writer
